Two minors burned to death
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Two minors were burned to death, and two others sustained burn injuries, when a fire razed to the ground a house made of light materials after midnight Saturday in Brgy. Canlandog, Murcia, Negros Occidental.

Chief Insp. Simeon Gane, Murcia police chief, and Fire Officer 2 Sanerlo Legaspi, arson investigator of the Bureau of Fire and Protection, said the bodies of Angie Lyn Esmelarin, 5, and her younger brother, Angelo Louie, 3, were discovered by their relatives and neighbors. They had been burned beyond recognition.

Milagros Panes, owner of the house, and Loreto Camus suffered first and second degree burns, the Murcia police reported.

Two Pulupandan barangay captains have issued a cease-and-desist order to Asian Alcohol Corp./Tanduay Distillers Inc.  to stop any activity that causes pollution and to seal its discharge pipe of effluents immediately.

The order was issued Friday by Canjusa Barangay Captain Francisco Dorepes and Zone 6 Barangay Captain Allan Jacildo, a copy of which they furnished the DAILY STAR yesterday.

They also directed the local Philippine National Police, Police Auxiliary Unit, Civil Security Group, and the barangay officials and tanods of Canjusa and Zone 6 to assist in enforcing the order.

The 2009 MassKara Festival was launched Saturday on the second day of the first Chicken Inasal Festival at the Manokan Country in Bacolod City during a program that featured an air dance number that awed the audience. 

Gymnasts performed to the beat of the MassKara Festival music on top of four elevated platforms in front of the Manokan Country while a group of skateboarders wearing lighted headdresses moved around the area during the entire performance.

After their number, a group of breakdancers took over a stage and danced to the rhythm of the live band.